Christie: New Jersey’s image is changing

Gov. Christie says in his travels he’s starting to see a change in the way New Jersey is seen. He says people thank him for being tough and not giving in and that the state is leading the nation in making difficult decisions. That results in more activity at the business center the lieutenant governor runs. People’s attitudes are changing. They’re feeling better about the state, he said on New Jersey 101.5 FM radio’s monthly “Ask The Governor” show. “We see it in the polling numbers as well.”

On other issues the governor said:

— He has not experienced the increased security pat-downs at the airports because governors don’t have to. “I’m concerned about the pat-downs. We should be using a combination of intelligence and those methods. We have to find the right balance.” He said the scanner doesn’t bother him, “I feel like I’ve already been scanned, there’s not much left for them to see.”

— On extending the No. 7 subway from Manhattan to New Jersey, he said he has been listening for Sen. Frank Lautenberg to chime in but has heard nothing unlike with the project Christie killed when Lautenberg complained daily. “I think it is a much better idea” than the train line to Macy’s basement the governor killed. He said he is dismayed at the level of politics some people get involved in. He meant Lautenberg. Christie said Mayor Mike Bloomberg hasn’t called about the No. 7 train yet. He said he would consider New Jersey money to help fund the No. 7 extension to Jersey. This is the project that should have been done — connects to Penn Station and the East Side of New York.

— This June the Transportation Trust Fund will be broke. He doesn’t see raising the gas tax on the people of New Jersey. “I would be very reluctant to do that.”

— The first thing to do about the pension fund is to shore up the one we have then take a longer range look at a final fix.

— Starting in January there will be layoffs across the state in municipalities because the Legislature has not acted on his so-called tool kit. He said the Legislature had time for all other things, like increased penalties for lock-picking. He said the lieutenant governor told mayors giving them the tool-kit is not enough, the kit has to be used. But they can’t happen until the legislation is passed. He said he didn’t know what the delay is about. “I’m here,” he said. Trenton has to give the municipalities the tools then it is their responsibilities to use them.

— Everyone benefits from a strong education system, including those who don’t have children in the system. He said the costs, however, need to be controlled. Caps on superintendent pay, arbitration reform and other such efforts are a part of that. He says he believes the Legislature will act on time but he keeps the pressure on because he thinks lawmakers in general prefer inaction to action especially on tough issues.

— The expansion of Medicaid will be vetoed if it passes. He thinks Obamacare was a bad idea and he thinks the U.S. House will do something to change it significantly, if not repeal it. He said he didn’t join the 20 other states suing over it because one more state added wouldn’t change the suit but it would cost taxpayers. If it is unconstitutional in one state, it is unconstitutional in all states.

— The day after Thanksgiving is not supposed to be a holiday except for the deal worked out with unions by Jon Corzine. So classified employees will get it under the agreement, everyone else can take a vacation day, personal day or work. He said he would be working.

— Roads have to be maintained and he sees no reason Corzine’s toll hikes would be rolled back. He likes a pay-as-you-go approach. The state is moving toward an all electronic toll collection system.

— It can’t be justified for the state to spend $30 million to support horse racing.

— He says he hasn’t read the bullying bill quickly passed by the Legislature and he will make a decision about signing it after he does. He has 45 days to act. He says his counsel has expressed some free speech issues.

— Citizens who see waste can send the governor e-mails and be anonymous. “I share your frustration about waste.”

— He couldn’t accept a puppy from a caller because his son, Patrick, is allergic to dogs. He can have only goldfish.

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About Bob Ingle

Bob Ingle is Senior Political Columnist for Gannett New Jersey newspapers and co-author of The New York Times' Best Seller, "The Soprano State: New Jersey's Culture of Corruption" and "Chris Christie: The Inside Story Of His Rise To Power". He has won numerous journalism awards and is often a news analyst on radio and television. Twitter @ bobingle99.

nellcote, all approval of funding is done by the House of Representatives. If desired, they can cut funding for the HC agencies. Would you go to work and not get paid?
The House did this last Sept. when they stripped funding from ACORN.

Governor Chris Christie is seeing new jersey in a different light, this light must come from the 400 dollar a night hotel rooms he stays at? Governor Christie must allow MEDICAL MARIJUANA TO BE DISPENCED BY MORE THAN FOUR[4] LOCATIONS FOR OUR SICKEST PEOPLE WITH CANCER!!! TO THE GOVERNOR, i have been disabled for 18 years, i have been on opiates since this time to reduce pain. doctors who are pain managers dispence opiate pills in many type miligrams 10-20-30-40 80-160 mg oxycontin pills are legal although they are most abused and have caused overdose deaths, MEDICAL MARIJUANA ALTHOUGH A SAFER MEDICINE MUST COME IN ONE[1] THC STRENTH THE GOVERNOR SEES FIT? YOUR NOT A FRAPPIN DOCTOR GOVERNOR! in one parking lot in cherryhill there are 3 locations with pain doctors in different offices all who are allowed to perscribe opiate pills, oxycontin, moriphine, percocets, rococets and a host of other addicting opiate pills are legal so that one dont have to live in pain. GOVENOR CHRISTIE HAS NO PROBLEMS OR COMMENTS ABOUT THE DISTRIBUTION OF OPIATES in 1000s of new jersey locations, BUT THIS SAFER MEDICINE MEDICAL MARIJUANA WILL ONLY BE DISPENCED IN 4 LOCATIONS, WHY?! ADDICTION AND ABUSE is said to be the governors concern, yet he says nothing about the abuse of opiate medicine? our governors wife pat christie just open a 3.5 million dollar building for 21 drug addicts, only 21 people that must be close friends or family members to spend so much tax money on this beautifull rehap, but they are addicted to cocaine and heroin, not medical marijuana, its not addictive!! MARIJUANA should be allowed to be optained just as are oxycontin opiate pills, since we have 1000s of pain managing doctors all through new jersey, allow the pain doctors to be able to perscribe marijuana, its safer than any opiate pill!! the governor dont understand, to allow this medicine in nj will generate a lotta money, there is no way there should not be profits made, if the governor states this is a nonprofit medicine, he is assnine, or a very smart man who will line his pockets with POT PROCEED dollars that go unseen as did his 400 per night hotel costs! WHY does our officals who think there doctors worry about marijuana when so many opiate pills, heroin, cocaine, and clean needles are allowed? give a man a needle, ill show you a junkie, give a man marijuana, ill show you a caring trust worthy friend. marijuana is a beautifull plant, not only is it benefical in many ways, for cancer patients it also is theraputic as a rose garden with great looks & smells. 4 plants per patient,make it law.. dr.timothy leary jr.H.S.M.

Our governor has begun the beautiful process of restoring NJ to a respectable place to work and live. It isn’t happening fast enough for those of us who work to support the state, but little by little, NJ is shedding it’s union/welfare status. Thank you, Governor Christie!

off topic, i have fought since 1993 to be allowed to use marijuana instead of what i am perscribed> addicting dangerous deadly opioid pills, congressman rob e. andrews my triton high school mate agreed with his constintuant that had MS. medical marijuana under a doctors care should be allowed, this statement in 1993, in 2004 rob andrews had flip floped about this issue and now states he dont support the use, has your MS. constintuant die robby? i, your school mate hasnt, im here rob andrews and i am still in pain buddy since 1993 sir, ROB E. ANDREWS give a failed back operation on your spine a 30 second try out congressman, in lived this nightmare for 18 years, congressman i guarantee within this 30 seconds of living hellish pain, in [30-seconds] you will think of suiside, optaining drugs, put a gun to your head, ANYTHING TO REDUCE THE PAIN, i have been made to live this fucking nightmare for 18 years!!! i am afraid of incressing my opiate pills, i am not afraid of using marijuana, its safer, non addicting, and can not cause death unless a ton of it fell from a truck opond your head. for our government to be able to make medical rules and regulations, they should first have to get malpractice insurance and be prepaired to be sued for wrongfull deaths that accure because a cancer patient was made to starve to there death because of lost eatting habits that are restoreable with the use of the medicine marijuana!! if the governor wants to be the marijuana doctor, he should first study what dangers over eatting has on the heart muscles! 1 thc level in marijuana isnt a governors call, nor is it my call to state he should have 1 meal per day, but he should

moving soon, have you heard of the term defamation? you foolish person, if i want to get high as you state, i have 60 OXYCONTIN pills along with 90 PERCOCET pills, FENTINYL MORIPHINE PATCHES not to mention the valium and muscle relaxers that are LEGAL TO GET HIGH ON AND BE ABUSED IF THAT WAS WHAT I WANTED ASSHOLE! my wife wasnt able to get the legal form of thc, marinol pills, they cost 1,249.00 for 30 pills while fighting a brain tumor and cancer! DEATH AT 69 LBS WAS PERSCRIBED, BECAUSE SHE COULD NOT EAT DO TO CHEMOTHERAPY AND RADIATION! THE FUCKING GOVERNOR DONT SAY SHIT ABOUT THE OPIATE PILLS BECAUSE PERDU PHARM PAID OUR OFFICALS TO ALLOW THE SALES OF THERE DEADLY DRUG! GOD PUT MARIJUANA ON EARTH, GEORGE WASHINGTON GREW THIS, OUR ORIGINAL CONSTITUTION IS ON HEMP [MARIJUANA] PAPER!! CALLING THESE PRICKS [FAT] WHO ALLOWED MY 31-Y LOVE TO DIE FROM STARVATION SHOULD BE SENTENCED TO DEATH, AS THEY PRESCRIBED FOR HER & OUR BABY! YOU HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF MEDICINE, I HAVE 18 YEARS FULL OF LEGAL OPIATE KNOWLEDGE, I LIVE IN PAIN MARIJUANA WOULD HELP, YOU MUST BE FAT SO IT HAS NO BENEFIT FOR YOU, YOUR EATTING HABITS MUST BE INTACT. PERHAPS FOR CHRISTMAS YOU’LL GET CANCER MOVING SOON, [THATS 5 1\2 YEARS SHE BEEN DEAD] THAN REPLY AS YOU WITHER AWAY, LET ME KNOW HOW YOUR EATTING HABIT IS WHEN YOUR GIVEN CHEMOTHERAPY AND RADIATION. HAVING ACCESS IS THE ISSUE, NOT GETTING HIGH YOU DUMB FUCKING IDIOT! MY WIFE AND CHILD WITHIN DIED DO TO LACK OF NUTRITION, THUS THE KEY THAT LEEDS TO REMISSION IF YOU CAN EAT! MOVE NOW. HAVE A LEGAL 90-PROFF HIGHLY TAXED ALCOHOL DRINK, YOU KNOW THATS SAFE, ITS LEGAL!???????? PROHIBITION WORKED WELL HUH!

One thing I can say for Christie, he has certainly learned to use political twist and spin to his advantage. NJ is the same corrupt, greedy, middle class unfriendly, state in the nation.

I think the only light Christie is seeing NJ through is his rose colored glasses, being illuminated by his over inflated ego.

Nothing is going to change until the corruption is taken care of, that includes BOTH parties, and those in power, stop using that power, to employ every family member, friends , and friends of friends, at our expense!

I swear I dont think there is one politician out there who owns a mirror. I also swear they have ALL had their consciences surgically removed.

Timothy Leary- John Your agenda is obvious and yet your multiple attempts to comment on the particular subject decrease your credibility. I would offer that you get psychological assistance to help you through your agony. Marijuana alone isn’t going to help.

if your paying for this therapy you suggest, show me the money! when disabled [ontheroad] you are made to live on 705.25 per month, try this, let me know how you do! heating benefits were cut, food alotments were cut, everything but my throat been cut, but since loosing my lover because of starvation do to flawed laws, i will take the cut throat as i fight for marijuana to become allowed. my legal pain medicine \oxycontin\ will stop the cut throat pain only, you will have to take it for life, your now legally addicted to a strong powerfull deadly abused medicine. if you read between 18 pain filled years of writting, your eyes will clear, than you will see. in any event, have a happy holiday. 6\255 my happy holidays ended when my wife lost her life, starvation, no marijuana allowed to be used, results were, death at 69lbs, christmas is beautifull, do the math, send the therapy money also

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Bob Ingle, Senior Political Columnist for Gannett New Jersey newspapers, on politics in "The Soprano State".

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Bob IngleBob Ingle is Senior Political Columnist for Gannett New Jersey Newspapers and co-author of The New York Times' Best Seller, "The Soprano State: New Jersey's Culture of Corruption." Hear him Fridays at 5 p.m. on www.tommygshow.com radio. twitter.com/bobingle99 E-mail Bob

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"Chris Christie: The Inside Story of His Rise to Power," written by Bob Ingle and Michael Symons, offers the first inside portrait of New Jersey’s governor, who in two years as governor emerged as a national Republican Party figure famous for his blunt public statements. The book details Christie’s combative public persona and deep family roots, tracing his improbable political rise from a bruising stint in county government to his anti-corruption crusade as U.S. Attorney for New Jersey. Chris Christie: The Inside Story of His Rise to Power goes behind the scenes to reveal his family life, his public life, and what the future might hold..

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